Line-throwing apparatus



G NORMAN.

LINE THROWING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3. 1922.

Patented June 6, 1922.

H 5 Hi'roRHEY.

GEGRGE NORMAN, OF BIRMINGHAM, EEG-LAND, ASSIGNOR TO B.

S. A. GUNS LIlvIITED,

OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

LIN E-THRO'W TN Gr APFAPt-ATUS.

secs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1922.

Application filed March 3, 1922. Serial No. 540,736.

To all 10/ 10772 2'?! may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE, NORMAN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 322 Mansel Road, Small Heath, Bir

'mingham, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Line-Throwing Apparatus.

This invention relates to improvements in line throwing apparatus and refers more particularly to apparatus of the kind wherein a line or cable, attached to a projectile, is thrown by means of a gun or mortar.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby line throwing apparatus can be made compact, light and portable, and whereby the possibility of entanglement or obstruction of the line at the commencement of and during the flight of the projectile is almost if not entirely obviated.

The invention consists in the employment of a cylinder or container for the line or cable, which is adapted and arranged to be mounted concentrically on the barrel of the gun or mortar, also in means whereby such cylinder or container can be readily mounted and securely held or locked in its operative position on the barrel of the gun or mortar, and easily and quickly detached therefrom when desired. The invention also consists in the employment of means whereby the coil of line or cable is mounted in the cylinder or container so as to prevent the collapse or unwinding of same during storage or transit and prior to use, and which is also intended and adapted to facilitate the attachment of the line or cable to the projectile.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood I will more fully describe same with reference to the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings, in which Figure 1 shows in part sectional elevation a line throwing apparatus constructed in accordance with and embodying the features of this invention.

Figure 2 shows a side elevation and longitudinal section of the detached cylinder or container for the halyard or line.

Figure 3 shows a modified arrangement for securing the cylinder or container on the gun.

According to the embodiment of this invention, as illustrated in the drawings, I provide a cylindrical body part or contalner 1 preferably made of thin sheet metal, in the otherwise an end lower end of which is secured by rivets or piece, or disc 2, preferablv made of wood, and at the underside of the said container is secured a central sleeve-Dart or collar 3, which is adapted to slidablv fit on to the barrel 4 of the gun or mortar. fit the lower part of the aforesaid central sleevepart or collar 3 is formed a flange part 5, which is preferably slightly undercut on its upper side and adapted to be engaged by the nose part 6 of a spring-pressed catch, or lever 7, mounted on the breech end of the gun, or as shown on a casing 8 in which the breech end is carried, whereby the cylinder or container l is securely held in position on the barrel 4 of the gun or mortar. Between the nose part 6 of the lever 7 and the flange part 5 of the collar 3 is arranged a space or clearance which is adapted to permit of a limited free movement of the gun in relation to the container 1, due to recoil when the gun is fired, which is intended to obviate excessive strains being exerted between the said. parts during such recoil movement.

In a modified arrangement for securing the container 1 in the position on the barrel of the gun, as shown in Figure 3, I employ an elastic connection comprising a spring 7 one end of which is secured to the stock on the underside of the barrel 4*, its other end being provided with a hook formation whereby it can be detachably secured to the ring or collar 3, on the underside of the container 1, or if desired it may be connected thereto by other suitable means. The aforesaid construction permits of a limited free movement of the gun in relation to the container l and also tends to damp the recoil of the gun, while obviating undue strains in the said connection which would have a tendency to fracture same.

The line or cable 9 is-preferably coiled or mounted on a mandrel comprising a cardboard tube ]l, which is passed into the cylinder or container 1, and is adapted to support the coil in a concentric position and prevent the uncoiling of same during storage or transit prior to use.

The internal diameter of the coil 10 is greater than that of the barrel 4 of the gun or mortar so that when the said coil and its container 1 are in position on the gun there is an annular space 12 between the barrel i and the tube 11 which supports the coil, in which space may lie the wires, or cords 13,

or other means for connecting the end of the line 9 to the projectile 14:. t

The inner or free end of the coil of the line is passed through the inside of the tube 11 before connecting same to the projectile 14;, which may be effected by means of a halyard clip 15, or by a knot or other suitable means.

Before firing, the said tube or support 11 is withdrawn, and to facilitate its ready re moval it may be provided at its upper outward end with loops or handle parts, or such maybe effected by a pull 011 the cord or line 9.

The upper end of the cylinder or container is closed with detachable lid or cover 16, provided with a central concentric hole or opening illlFOllgll which the cord or line 9 passes during the unwinding of same, when the projectile 14 has been iii-ed from the gun or mortar, and on the inner side of he lid is secured a disc 17 of wood or other material which serves as a stiffening or strengthening piece, and togetl'ier with the end piece or disc 2 fitted in the lower end of the container, is adapted to prevent metallic contact with the upper and lower ends of the coil, which may be objectionable in the event of rust or oxidi aation at such parts.

To permit of the easy attachment and detachment of the lid or cover 16, in the flange thereof are formed bayonet slots 18 which engage with studs 19 fixed on the sides of the container 1.

Having fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a line throwing apparatus, a cylinder adapted to contain a coil of cable secured to the container and to a projectile, said cable being wound in tubular form to surround the barrel of a gun and adapted to be unwound from too inside of the cylinder outwardly when the projectile is projected forwardly.

:2. A cable carrier for use in line throwin apparatus, comprising a cylinder adapted to contain a coil of cable to be unwound when a projectile attached to the cable is projected forwardly, a collar secured to said cylinder and adapted to slidably fit on the barrel of a gun, said collar being provided with a flange for engagement by retaining means carried by the gun.

3. A line throwing apparatus comprising a gun, a cylinder adapted to contain a coil of cable to be unwound when a projectile attached to the cable is projected forwardly, a collar secured to said cylinder and adapted to slidably fit on the barrel of the gun, said collar being provided with a flange, and a spring pressed lever carried by the gun and having a nose adapted to project over said flange and lying in spaced relation thereto.

l. A cable carrier for use in line throwing apparatus, comprising a cylinder adapted to contain a coil of unwound when a projectile attached to the cable is projected forwardly and means for securing said cylinder to the barrel of a gun while permitting limited movement of the cvlinder relative to the gun.

Z3. cable carrier for use in line throwin;- apparatus, comprising a cylinder adapted to be secured concentrically on the barrel of a gun, and a removable tube having a cable wound thereon and adapted to be received in said cylinder about said barrel, said tube lying in spaced relation to the barrel.

6. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a cylinder adapted to be secured concentrically on the barrel of a line-throwing gun, a removable tube in said cylinder in concentric relation with said. cylinder and adapted to surround the barrel of a gun in spaced relation thereto. and a cable wound on saict tube having one end connected to said cylinder and its other end extending through said tube for connection with a )l'OjGClillG.

7 A cable carrier for use in line-throwing apparatus, comprising a line-containing cylinder adapted to be mounted on the barrel of a line-throwing gun, and means for securing said cylinder to the gun and permitting limited relative movement be tween said cylinder and the gun.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE NORMAIFT.

Witnessesz Ennnsr V. Jonas, LESLIE D. lVHEnLEn.

cable to be 

